John Dillon Fellowship Grant

About this grant

The John Dillon Fellowship, established in 2002 in recognition of Professor John L Dillon's commitment to agricultural research, is a flagship fellowship program of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The program aims to develop the leadership and management skills of mid-career professionals, particularly scientists, researchers and economists working for more effective agricultural research for development outcomes in ACIAR partner countries. The newly redesigned program as of 2023 is delivered in individual country cohorts of up to 15 participants with a strong focus on organisational capability to manage and lead efficient, effective and sustainable research for development. The program is developed and delivered by the International Development team at the University of New England, Australia, and is adaptive to the differing needs and requirements of partner organisations and the agriculture sector in each region. The program consists of three main components: an immersive 8-day in-country professional development workshop covering key topics connected to leadership and management; short professional development projects undertaken over 8 to 10 weeks where teams work collaboratively on management and leadership projects focused on implementing learnings within their organisations; and a final 8-day reflective workshop in Australia including site visits to Australian organisations and ACIAR House in Canberra. By the end of the program, participants are expected to have increased capability and confidence to lead and influence effective agricultural research in their organisations, particularly in the domains of values-based leadership, collaboration and communication, project management, and gender equity and social inclusion.

Eligibility

The fellowship is open to mid-career professionals, particularly scientists, researchers and economists working in ACIAR partner countries. Participants are selected from individual country cohorts with a maximum of 15 participants per cohort. In 2023, the program focuses on Indonesia and Pacific Nations, though recent recipients have included partners from Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Key requirements

• ✓Agricultural research focus aligned with ACIAR's priorities
• ✓Career development and capacity-building component
• ✓Eligibility criteria and application process available on ACIAR website

Recent past awardees

Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.

• Bangladesh partners
• Philippines partners
• Vietnam partners

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for John Dillon Fellowship?

Eligibility covers organisations in AU, GLOBAL-SOUTH, ASIA, OCEANIA; university, research-institution, individual. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Regenerative agriculture funding supports soil health, cover cropping, reduced tillage, agroforestry and grazing practices that store carbon and restore land. It comes through agricultural support schemes, research programmes and supply-chain initiatives run with food companies. Applicants often need farmer partners, field trial plans and a way to monitor soil outcomes.